Homeschool-Life Guidelines & Posting Etiquette
Homeschool-Life:
Homeschool-Life is the platform that SAIL employs to host its internal, members-only website. All members are expected to follow the posting guidelines. Homeschool-Life exists to:
- Provide key information and pertinent files about the organization to members.
- Keep members informed of upcoming SAIL activities and events.
- Host the SAIL calendar and membership directory.
- Act as a forum for members to share helpful homeschooling tips, information and links, and to ask questions about homeschooling and other relevant topics.
- Store and present important information for SAIL’s ongoing clubs, teams, and activities.
- Provide a central location for useful files and links relevant to homeschooling and the broader homeschooling community.
Online Etiquette:
These apply to all communications on Homeschool-Life, email systems, discussion groups, and social media platforms sent to SAIL members and volunteers who are giving of their time to serve the group.
- Be respectful, kind, and professional. Remember there is a human on the receiving end of your communications.
- Think before you hit send. If you wouldn’t be comfortable saying the words directly to the live person or group, revise and reread, or reconsider posting.
- Guard your personal information and share with discretion.
- Respect the privacy and personal information of others.
- Remember that your online words are permanently stored.
- Fact check before posting and post with accuracy and clarity.
- Write well. Urgency, laziness, and internet slang are bad manners.
- Observe the participants, content, and tone in groups to gauge the environment for what is appropriate before participating in the conversation.
- Don’t use ALL CAPS as they are the written equivalent of yelling.
- Avoid “flaming” – expressing strongly held opinions without restraining emotion.
- Avoid “spamming” or sending/forwarding messages to a group.
- Avoid cursing or inflammatory language.
- Don’t post any material with content that could be deemed offensive or illegal.
General Group Guidelines:
- Remember that SAIL is an inclusive group. Members hold a wide variety of viewpoints on everything including religion, politics, styles of homeschooling, and reasons for homeschooling. Please do not proselytize or try to convert others to your beliefs.
- Check the Membership Directory for personal information (email addresses, phone numbers) of members to contact them directly.
- Member emails are for private use only. Do not copy the SAIL member list to add to your business database. If you would like to advertise a business or opportunity, you may only do so in the Classifieds section of the website.
Specific Posting Rules:
- Make sure you are posting in the correct forum. Most SAIL and homeschool-related posts should go in the SAIL/Homeschooling category unless there is a more specific category for your post (e.g. Co-op, Curriculum, Gifted). If your post is not directly related to SAIL or homeschooling, please put it in an appropriate category or in Off-Topic Chat.
- Make sure the subject line of your post accurately describes its content. If the message thread changes subjects, please start a new thread with a new subject line before continuing to post.
- Scan all messages in a thread before posting in order to avoid making redundant comments.
- Take personal discussions off of the forum. If your message is directed to a specific person, it should be sent directly to the individual.
Consequences for Misconduct:
- Minor offenses will receive a polite reminder from a moderator.
- Serious offenses will receive a notice from the Board, and the poster will be put on moderated status for a period of time determined by the Board.
- Repeat offenses will result in permanent moderated status or further disciplinary action.
- In extreme instances, the SAIL Board reserves the right to restrict or revoke posting privileges and SAIL membership without warning.